Effect of Eyelid Treatments on Bacterial Load and Lipase Activity in Relation to Contact Lens Discomfort.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of microblepharon exfoliation on the number of eyelid bacteria and their lipase activity and the relationship of these to contact lens discomfort. METHODS: Thirty experienced contact lens wearers had their eyelid margin physiology, tear properties, and comfort scores assessed. The number, type, and frequency of lower eyelid margin bacteria, and their lipase activity, were measured. Eyelids were treated with a foam cleanser or microblepharon exfoliation. Clinical and microbiological tests were repeated at each visit. Changes and correlations were examined. RESULTS: Symptomatic lens wearers had a higher ratio for the number and frequency of gram-positive rods and cocci. Microblepharon exfoliation reduced the number and ratio of gram-positive rods to cocci from baseline for symptomatic wearers that lasted 7 to 10 days after treatment (P<0.05). Numbers of bacteria, the ratio of rods to cocci, and lipase activity correlated with lash contamination (r≥0.385; P≤0.046) and anterior blepharitis (r≥0.359; P≤0.048). Bacterial lipase correlated with meibomian gland secretions (r=0.422; P=0.038) and the tear evaporation rate (r=0.479; P=0.022). Microblepharon exfoliation produced a significant reduction in CLDEQ-8 scores and converted 10 symptomatic into asymptomatic lens wearers. CONCLUSIONS: There was dysbiosis in the lid microbiome of symptomatic lens wearers. Microblepharon exfoliation reduced the number, frequency of isolation, and ratio of gram-positive rods and cocci. Bacterial numbers and their lipase production correlated with changes to clinical signs and symptoms. Symptomatic lens wearers could be converted to asymptomatic lens wearers after microblepharon exfoliation.

Surgical Site Infection Caused by Mycobacterium Septicum Following Blepharoplasty.

BACKGROUND: M fortuitum and M chelonae are commonly reported in surgical site infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacterium, but M septicum is rarely known. Herein, the authors report the first case of surgical site infection caused by M septicum in an immunocompetent patient after blepharoplasty. METHODS: A 37-year-old woman had persisting bilateral masses on the upper eyelids at 3 months after a blepharoplasty. The excision and revision were performed in a local clinic with the administration of the empirical antibiotic (clarithromycin) for 2 months, but the masses recurred. The patient was referred to the authors' hospital after the steroid was injected. As the right eyelid skin was very thin with the pus pocket, curettage was performed, while the mass on the left eyelid was completely excised. A bacterial, Acid Fast Bacilli culture with antibiotic susceptibility testing, and a DNA-polymerase chain reaction test were performed. RESULTS: The polymerase chain reaction test identified M septicum. The antibiotic treatment was delayed to identify the susceptibility to antibiotics, but the Acid Fast Bacilli culture result showed no growth. In the meantime, the mass on the right eyelid recurred. Levofloxacin and clarithromycin were administered for 6 months in consultation with the Division of Infectious Diseases. Then the mass was excised. There was no recurrence after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: There are a few reports of M septicum catheter-related infection and pulmonary disease, but surgical site infection has not been reported. When a localized mass on a surgical site is found, surgeons should consider M septicum infection and find out the pathogen with its antibiotics susceptibility.

Periorbital Necrotizing Fasciitis Induced by Streptococcus pyogenes: A Case Report and Clarification.

Periorbital necrotizing fasciitis (PONF) is a rare condition of the face. PONF can lead to blindness, functional and esthetic sequelae, multiple-organ failure, and death. The aim of this report is to raise the awareness of this severe condition in maxillofacial surgeons. This report describes the case of a 30-year-old woman who presented with a bilateral palpebral edema and pain 3 days after a jugal wound was sutured. Necrosis of the skin of the left palpebral unit was extending rapidly. The patient had signs of sepsis. Surgical debridement was performed promptly and intravenous broad-spectrum empiric antibiotics were administered. The patient recovered slowly with no complication other than a residual skin defect of the 2 eyelids that was later corrected by full-thickness skin grafting. Special attention should be paid to signs of preseptal cellulitis because it can, in some cases, rapidly develop into PONF. Early diagnosis and treatment are the keys to a favorable outcome.

Eyelid Mycetoma Masquerading as Sebaceous Carcinoma.

A 56-year-old Asian woman presented with an upper eyelid mass. The lesion was exposed after eversion of the eyelid revealing a thickened tarsus with yellowish areas. Working diagnosis was sebaceous carcinoma. Biopsy was performed. Histopathological studies showed a mycotic eumycetoma with Splendore-Hoeppli phenomena and - microbiologic cultures grew Scedosporium apiospermum. The patient was started on voriconazole 200 mg po bid with adequate serum levels. A complete response was observed after 18 weeks of voriconazole therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first published case of S. apiospermum eumycotic mycetoma of the eyelid. It is important to consider mycotic infection in the differential diagnosis of eyelid tumors even in healthy patients.

Eyelid sporotrichosis: Unique clinical findings in 72 patients.

Sporotrichosis on the eyelids is uncommon and has been rarely reported. As the largest series of 72 adults and children with eyelid sporotrichosis from Jilin ̀P̀̀rovince in China, this study provides useful information for the improved diagnosis and treatment of sporotrichosis.

Granulicatella elegans Causing Periorbital Infection During Orthodontic Treatment.

Granulicatella elegans is a normal component of the oral flora and is an unusual causative agent of infective endocarditis. A case of G. elegans periorbital infection of the eyelid after dental treatment is reported. A healthy 35-year-old man presented with painful swelling of the left upper eyelid. He was empirically treated with oral amoxicillin for 1 week. He presented 3 months later with the same clinical features. G. elegans and Staphylococcus epidermidis were identified in bacterial cultures from wound aspirates. Probable relapse of periorbital infection was successfully treated with a 6-week course of oral amoxicillin. This is the first reported case of a non-bloodstream infection caused by G. elegans. Clinicians should be aware of G. elegans as an unusual causative agent of periorbital infection. Within the limitations of this case report, prolonged antibiotic therapy is recommended for a G. elegans periorbital infection to minimize the risk of relapse.

Primary Cutaneous Coccidioidomycosis of the Eyelid: A Case Report.

A 33-year-old man presented with an ulcerated nodule on his left eyelid and eyebrow that was unresponsive to broad-spectrum antibiotics. Incisional biopsies were performed, and cultures were positive for Coccidioides immitis. An extensive work-up revealed no systemic involve ment of disseminated coccidioidomycosis. The patient was treated with oral itraconazole for 6 months with resolution of the lesion. Few cases of primary cutaneous coccidioidomycosis have been reported. The authors describe a primary cutaneous coccidioidomycosis lesion of the eyelid without disseminated disease.

[Ecthyma gangrenosum of the eyelid after chickenpox]. / Ecthyma gangreneux de la paupière compliquant une varicelle.

BACKGROUND: Ecthyma gangrenosum is an acute ulcer necrotic skin infection frequently caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is characterised by necrotic ulcerations circumscribed by an inflammatory halo. Lesions are normally found in the anal, genital and axillary regions. Ecthyma gangrenosum is most commonly seen in immunodepressed patients (cytotoxic chemotherapy, HIV infection, neutropenia or functional neutrophil deficiency, agammaglobulinemia). It is a rarely described complication in chicken pox. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Herein we report the case of a girl aged 2 ½ years presenting in our dermatology department with ecthyma gangrenosum on the right upper eyelid secondary to varicella. The disease course was marked by fibrous scarring of the inner canthus with ptosis of the right upper eyelid. The retractile scarring caused disability. DISCUSSION: There have been previous reports of the contribution of non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to the appearance of necrotic cutaneous super infections during the course of chickenpox. The occurrence of such complications on an eyelid may be harmful not only for the function of the eye but it can also cause extensive aesthetic impairment. Subsequent aesthetic and functional impairment may be improved by corrective surgery.

Periorbital cellulitis due to cutaneous anthrax.

Virgil's plague of the ancient world, Bacillus anthracis, is rare in developed nations. Unfortunately rural communities across the globe continue to be exposed to this potentially lethal bacterium. Herein we report a case of periorbital cutaneous anthrax infection in a 3-year-old girl from the rural area surrounding Harare, Zimbabwe with a brief review of the literature.

Severe neutropenia presenting with Candida albicans eyelid abscess in a 1-year-old child.

A previously healthy 1-year-old boy presented with a right lower eyelid abscess. Oral and topical antibiotics were initiated, and the lesion was drained and explored. Despite medical and surgical treatment, the abscess failed to resolve completely and formed again 1 month later. A second incision and drainage procedure was performed, and Candida albicans grew in cultures. Additional workup revealed severe neutropenia with an absolute neutrophil count of 0.18 k/µl (1.19-7.21 k/µl). The abscess resolved after 2 weeks of oral fluconazole. C. albicans eyelid abscess may be the presenting sign of systemic immunodeficiency.

A case of tinea versicolor of the eyelids.

Tinea versicolor is a commonly encountered superficial fungal infection often presenting on the chest and back with hyperpigmented or hypopigmented scaly macules and patches. We report an unusual and rare presentation of tinea versicolor affecting only the eyelids.

A novel surgical technique for the treatment of giant fornix syndrome.

PURPOSE: To describe a novel surgical treatment for patients with chronic relapsing conjunctivitis, corneal epitheliopathy, and ptosis secondary to giant fornix syndrome. METHODS: A retrospective case series was performed looking at the presence or absence of preoperative symptoms of eye irritation, tearing, blurry vision, and discharge in 6 patients diagnosed with giant fornix syndrome. Their examination findings were noted, and all patients underwent an extensive conjunctivoplasty with resection of redundant forniceal conjunctiva with subconjunctival antibiotics. Final visual acuity, symptoms, and examination findings were noted with a minimum follow up of 9 months. RESULTS: Six patients were treated from November 2009 to November 2011. Duration of symptoms ranged from 3 to 40 months. Four patients were women while 2 were men, with age ranging from 61 to 85 years. Common symptoms were severe mucopurulent discharge, eye redness, tearing, and irritation with examination findings of severe conjunctival discharge and injection, corneal epitheliopathy, upper eyelid ptosis, and a deep upper and lower eyelid fornix. Most patients had undergone previous treatments with topical and/or oral antibiotics or steroids. All patients underwent surgical intervention using the surgical technique to be described with resolution of their symptoms, and even an improvement of 2 or more lines of best corrected visual acuity (3 of 5 patients). CONCLUSIONS: The authors' novel surgical technique helps restore the abnormal anatomy found in patients with giant fornix syndrome and thus, helps resolve chronic relapsing conjunctivitis and surface disease associated with this often underdiagnosed condition. Further studies are needed to evaluate the risk of entropion and dry eye syndrome due to the modification of the posterior lamella.

Eyelid necrotizing fasciitis: what were the early signs?

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare, life-threatening subcutaneous soft tissue infection that causes massive tissue destruction. OBJECTIVES: To illustrate the warning signs of this condition by reporting a rare case of eyelid necrotizing fasciitis. CASE REPORT: A previously healthy 22-year-old man presented with a preseptal eyelid infection that spread rapidly despite prompt treatment with several intravenous antibiotics. He developed the characteristic clinical and radiologic features of necrotizing fasciitis, and required surgical debridement to cure the infection. Histology confirmed the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: In this article, we suggest the indicators that may enable physicians to think of the development of necrotizing fasciitis in patients with infections of the skin and subcutis.

Group a streptococcus necrotizing fasciitis of the eyelid: a case report of good outcome with medical management.

Periorbital necrotizing fasciitis is a potentially fatal disease, and early surgical debridement has been advocated to minimize the risk of blindness and mortality. The authors report a case of an 18-year-old man who presented with isolated, unilateral group A Streptococcus eyelid necrotizing fasciitis. The patient responded to intravenous antibiotics alone, and no surgical debridement was needed. Skin reconstructive surgery was carried out after resolution of the acute infection. The clinical and cosmetic outcome was good. This case report supports limited but growing evidence that potentially disfiguring surgical debridement may be avoided in selected cases of eyelid necrotizing fasciitis and that uncomplicated periorbital necrotizing fasciitis can be treated conservatively with good results.

Ophthalmic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections: sensitivity and resistance profiles of 234 isolates.

To identify the sensitivity and resistance profiles of ophthalmic Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a large, diverse demographic. The electronic database of a large health maintenance organization was searched for patients who had an ophthalmic bacterial culture performed from 2002 to 2008 which grew MRSA. Data collected included culture source, sensitivity and resistance profiles, and whether the infection was community or nosocomially-acquired. In this retrospective study, not all isolates were tested for all the antibiotics. All isolates tested for vancomycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and rifampin were sensitive to these antibiotics and none were resistant. Gentamycin and chloramphenicol had the next highest sensitivity to resistance ratios, followed by tetracycline and trimethoprim (without sulfamethoxazole). Community acquired MRSA is becoming more frequent and the most common ophthalmic manifestation is eyelid involvement. The sensitivities to antibiotics of the ophthalmic MRSA isolates in this study are consistent with that seen in the literature.

Histoplasmosis presenting as a cutaneous malignancy of the eyelid.

Cutaneous histoplasmosis is an uncommon infection and can occur as a primary infection. A manifestation imitating a cutaneous neoplasm is rare, and eyelid involvement is rarer still. The authors report a case of histoplasmosis that presented as an ulcerated lesion on the lower eyelid margin that clinically resembled a basal cell carcinoma. Given its worldwide distribution, it is important to include this disease in the differential diagnosis of nonhealing eyelid lesions. Biopsy and tissue culture are paramount to establishing the diagnosis. This case describes a rare presentation of histoplasmosis on the eyelid and highlights the importance of histopathologic evaluation.

Actinomycotic granule of the caruncle: a case report.

Actinomycosis is a rare cause of a caruncular mass previously unreported in large clinicohistopathologic studies. A 25-year-old man presented with an enlarged and irritated left caruncle and an otherwise normal ocular examination. After the patient failed to respond to conservative medical management, an excision biopsy revealed an underlying diagnosis of actinomycotic granule of the caruncle. The patient's symptoms resolved, and after 6 months of follow up there was no evidence of recurrence. Actinomycosis is a slowly progressive, chronic infection with a nonspecific clinical presentation. Diagnosis is therefore difficult and is generally made on the basis of histopathology. This case demonstrates that actinomycosis can present as a caruncular mass.

[Cutaneous eyelid tuberculosis--a case report]. / Gruzlica skóry powiek--opis przypadku.

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection caused by a germ called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attacks the lungs, but it can also affects other human organs or tissues. Localization of tuberculosis out of respiratory system is very rare and sometimes difficult to establish. Our patient finally diagnosed as lid tuberculosis with negative tuberculin reaction and clinical presentation as basal cell carcinoma of the lids, is a strong argument for that.